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What Americans Really Believe
A shocking snapshot of the most current impulses in American religion. Rodney Stark reports the surprising findings of the 2007 Baylor Surveys of Religion, a follow up to the 2005 survey revealing most Americans believe in God or a higher power. This new volume highlights even more hot-button issues of religious life in our country. A must-read for anyone interested in Americans' religious beliefs and practices.
217 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 2008
About the author
Rodney Stark
60 books267 followersRodney Stark grew up in Jamestown, North Dakota, and began his career as a newspaper reporter. Following a tour of duty in the U.S. Army, he received his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, where he held appointments as a research sociologist at the Survey Research Center and at the Center for the Study of Law and Society. He left Berkeley to become Professor of Sociology and of Comparative Religion at the University of Washington. In 2004 he joined the faculty of Baylor University. He has published 30 books and more than 140 scholarly articles on subjects as diverse as prejudice, crime, suicide, and city life in ancient Rome. However, the greater part of his work has been on religion. He is past president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and of the Association for the Sociology of Religion. He also has won a number of national and international awards for distinguished scholarship. Many of his books and articles have been translated and published in foreign languages, including Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Slovene, and Turkish.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 14, 2023
Dated. Also, in all honestly, I really just read the conclusions to each section. My lender wanted it back. The info wasn't all that new for me. But it maybe had it's place in the early 200s and, frankly, is probably where my sources got all their info.
March 17, 2009
There's a lot of good data in this book, but I lost patience with his pejorative cooments and editorializing designed to sell his own conservative christian views. He'd have been better off and shown more wisdom to let the data speak.
May 2, 2010
Based on the Baylor Surveys of Religion, instituted in 2005, the research in this book demonstrates that the two most important aspects of religious life are stability and diversity. There is a lot of good information in this book and it is a quick read as it is filled with numerous tables and charts. What struck me most is that the study results are sort of ho-hum, saying things have not changed too much. To write a bestseller one has to bring forth a stunning finding, such as arguing that secularism and non-belief are taking over. Here we have a book that goes against such alarmist rhetoric. Stark and the many other contributors do not say nothing has changed. It is just that things have not changed as much as some would have us believe.
Stark shows that church attendance in America has actually increased over the years, and remains very high today. The reason for this is that American culture favors no religion. Instead, all religions and denominations must compete for members and such competition spurs people on to inviting friends to church, sharing their faith and other outreach and evangelistic activities. Some churches are shrinking, those on the theologically "liberal" end of the spectrum. This finding is in line with many other studies. The reason Stark gives again is that such churches exist in little tension with culture and there is not much benefit for joining. On the other hand, more conservative churches greatly motivate their members to recruit which leads to continued growth. This leads into findings that "strict" churches in more tension with culture give more satisfaction to members, which also leads to growth.
All of this is in the first portion of the book, by far the most interesting (and also bearing similarity to other of Stark's work). The second part on specifics of belief and practice such as religions experience, heaven (most Americans are not very exclusive), God (people are more motivated by a focus on God's love than on God's wrath), evil (what causes it?), giving (more active church-goers are more generous), personality (are we hard-wired for God?). One intriguing point is that women are more religious than men. The question asked is why this is so. This question becomes nuanced when we realize it is not an American phenomenon but instead appears to be universal. The conclusion Stark leans towards is that of a professor named Alan Miller who argued that the only other universal gender difference in which men always outdo women is in committing crimes and reckless behavior. Miller's conclusion is that irreligiousness is like other risky behaviors, after all one's immortal soul is at stake! Men are more likely to gamble with their money and their eternity.
The third section is on atheism and irreligion. Their research shows that, despite the publicity, atheism has not really grown. In this chapter Stark takes a few shots at the "new atheists" (Dawkins, Hitchens, etc.). Interestingly, it is those who are the least churched who are most likely to believe in the paranormal and other oddities such as Bigfoot. Finally, though the number of atheists has not really grown the number of those who are not religious (in line with other studies) has. Many of these non-religious people still consider themselves spiritual and believe in the supernatural.
The final part of the book focuses on public issues: faith and politics, symbols of Christmas in public, talking about faith in public, religious-media consumption, participating in the community, and the relation of church attendance to having children.
Overall, this is a book filled with lots of interesting information. It is very useful for those who want a snapshot of American beliefs. Yet I found it a bit too shallow. At times some of the interpretations of the data seemed stretched. Beyond that, there was not enough context and analysis, it seemed a mile wide and an inch deep. So while it is a helpful book the reader is left wanting much more. Probably 2.5 stars.
Stark shows that church attendance in America has actually increased over the years, and remains very high today. The reason for this is that American culture favors no religion. Instead, all religions and denominations must compete for members and such competition spurs people on to inviting friends to church, sharing their faith and other outreach and evangelistic activities. Some churches are shrinking, those on the theologically "liberal" end of the spectrum. This finding is in line with many other studies. The reason Stark gives again is that such churches exist in little tension with culture and there is not much benefit for joining. On the other hand, more conservative churches greatly motivate their members to recruit which leads to continued growth. This leads into findings that "strict" churches in more tension with culture give more satisfaction to members, which also leads to growth.
All of this is in the first portion of the book, by far the most interesting (and also bearing similarity to other of Stark's work). The second part on specifics of belief and practice such as religions experience, heaven (most Americans are not very exclusive), God (people are more motivated by a focus on God's love than on God's wrath), evil (what causes it?), giving (more active church-goers are more generous), personality (are we hard-wired for God?). One intriguing point is that women are more religious than men. The question asked is why this is so. This question becomes nuanced when we realize it is not an American phenomenon but instead appears to be universal. The conclusion Stark leans towards is that of a professor named Alan Miller who argued that the only other universal gender difference in which men always outdo women is in committing crimes and reckless behavior. Miller's conclusion is that irreligiousness is like other risky behaviors, after all one's immortal soul is at stake! Men are more likely to gamble with their money and their eternity.
The third section is on atheism and irreligion. Their research shows that, despite the publicity, atheism has not really grown. In this chapter Stark takes a few shots at the "new atheists" (Dawkins, Hitchens, etc.). Interestingly, it is those who are the least churched who are most likely to believe in the paranormal and other oddities such as Bigfoot. Finally, though the number of atheists has not really grown the number of those who are not religious (in line with other studies) has. Many of these non-religious people still consider themselves spiritual and believe in the supernatural.
The final part of the book focuses on public issues: faith and politics, symbols of Christmas in public, talking about faith in public, religious-media consumption, participating in the community, and the relation of church attendance to having children.
Overall, this is a book filled with lots of interesting information. It is very useful for those who want a snapshot of American beliefs. Yet I found it a bit too shallow. At times some of the interpretations of the data seemed stretched. Beyond that, there was not enough context and analysis, it seemed a mile wide and an inch deep. So while it is a helpful book the reader is left wanting much more. Probably 2.5 stars.
November 2, 2010
Promising premise perhaps appealing to the conspiracy theorist in us all, but this book didn't deliver. The idea is that because previous surveyors thought conservatives too "fringe" to count, many polls of what Americans believe included only mainstream denominations. Because these denominations have been continually shrinking, this is no longer a valid picture of what Americans believe. It was interesting to see the kinds of questions asked both in earlier polls and those done by Baylor in recent years. Where this book fails is in the author's own interpretation of the new data. Stark seems to think everything can be explained through "marketing." While salesmanship may get someone to try a religious experience, content is what will keep them coming back. In the 70's there were waiting lists for Japanese made cars while sales of American cars languished. Was that because the Japanese marketed more effectively? or was it because they were building a better product?
In my opinion, the focus on marketing of many American churches (conservative or liberal) will be their downfall. In twenty years they will write a book about the downturn in churches who focus too much on drawing crowds and not enough on changing lives.
In my opinion, the focus on marketing of many American churches (conservative or liberal) will be their downfall. In twenty years they will write a book about the downturn in churches who focus too much on drawing crowds and not enough on changing lives.
February 28, 2011
Stark is on a mission to get data to back up or refute common perceptions about religion in American culture. Through two recent studies he tackles several in this book. It is broken into short chapters that focus on a particular issue. These were targeted in the surveys done through Baylor University's Institute for the Study of Religion. There is not a single main point or argument so it is possible to skip around if some topics don't interest you.
Many of the findings are not surprising but do give data to confirm them. For example, the study found that women tend to be more religious than men. Others are surprising. For example, atheism has not increased over the last 50 years remaining steady at about %4. Also, church membership has continued to increase and church attendance has remained relatively unchanged despite many doomsday predictions about the decline of religion.
Some may not like Stark's frankness and criticism. He quote's many thinkers who make broad declarations about some aspect of religion and then proceeds to show how this is not backed up by the data. I find this refreshing.
Many of the findings are not surprising but do give data to confirm them. For example, the study found that women tend to be more religious than men. Others are surprising. For example, atheism has not increased over the last 50 years remaining steady at about %4. Also, church membership has continued to increase and church attendance has remained relatively unchanged despite many doomsday predictions about the decline of religion.
Some may not like Stark's frankness and criticism. He quote's many thinkers who make broad declarations about some aspect of religion and then proceeds to show how this is not backed up by the data. I find this refreshing.
June 6, 2013
An excellent exposition of the current state of religious belief in the U.S. Stark aptly debunks popular notions about the state of religion in the U.S. arguing that conservative Christianity is not on its last legs but alive and well. Likewise liberal Christianity, contrary to what sociologists said throughout the 20th century is not taking over but declining rapidly. It may also not be the case that atheism and irreligiousness is on the rise as atheists still compose a measly 4% of the population in the U.S. and the irreligious in general 11%. Ironically it is these irreligious peoples who are the most likely to believe in the paranormal, alien abductions, big foot, and New Age teachings whereas conservative Christians are the least likely. Overall, I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in sociology or religion its a great introduction into some recent developments in the field.
March 7, 2017
The biggest thing I took away from this book is that people on any extreme of a religion-based argument are way too alarmist--Baylor's statistics reveal that the church is alive and well in America and that the vast majority of Americans at least believe in God, refuting the "religion is dying off" theorists and the "America is being taken over by a crazed minority theocracy" theorists alike.
Also: most Americans put up a Christmas tree, including many atheists, so why ban Christmas trees as a "religious symbol" in government institutions? They don't even have anything to do with Christianity, so it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, people.
Also: most Americans put up a Christmas tree, including many atheists, so why ban Christmas trees as a "religious symbol" in government institutions? They don't even have anything to do with Christianity, so it doesn't make a whole lot of sense, people.
June 18, 2010
The people who wrote this book just do not get it, in so many different ways. "Statistics" and then "analysis" of the "statistics" are presented. It's like they think they're Perez Hilton and this book is some snarky blog. The open bias of the analysis makes me question the validity of the statistics. Most of the statistics are shallow survey questions. The opinions are often unrelated to the statistics. Percentage differentials mean a lot or a little based on whatever the authors want.
I am all for sociological studies of religion, but that is not what this book is.
I am all for sociological studies of religion, but that is not what this book is.
June 9, 2011
This book could have been good - the statistics were certainly interesting. But in the end the bias of the author overwhelmed the book and I gave up on it. I don't mind reading a book by someone who I disagree with, but in a book that is supposed to be about facts, it is really bad form to let your own biases hang out like that. It also called into question the authenticity of the book itself. Too bad. Don't bother reading this if you are an atheist, or even a liberal.
September 11, 2009
A religion which requires more from its parishioners is more likely to have strong growth as well as more likely to have a higher proportion of tithe payers. In 1776 only 17 % of the US population claimed to belong to a church. A interesting commentary on religious beliefs in America...America really does appear to still be religious.
March 19, 2014
Great book that presented what seemed like unbiased research on religion in America. It really provided strong arguments and statistics that proved many of the current religious ideas or trends aren't as prominent as they may have seemed. The sections on giving, heaven, atheism and kids who go to church were the most interesting chapters to me.
June 28, 2016
Good premise- that we should look at survey data to figure out Americans' actual religious beliefs rather than rely on what academics think they know.
Bad execution- poor interpretation of data, not such great data anyhow.
Bad execution- poor interpretation of data, not such great data anyhow.
December 30, 2010
Some interesting myths are exposed re: Americans & Religion...
October 22, 2015
A series of basic descriptives about different dimensions of religiosity in the US. A good overview of some of the central questions in the sociology of religion.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews